When it comes to Chinese private secretaries, many people may think that they are a product of modern times. In fact, as far back as two thousand years ago during the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, private secretaries had already emerged and played an important role in the politics, economy and even the military at that time. However, there was no concept of "secretary" at that time, nor was there any "secretary". "Private Secretary" is just a professional title.

Existing historical data show that China’s private secretaries originated in the Western Zhou Dynasty. Under the slavery hierarchy at that time, "the emperor founded the country, the princes established their families, the ministers had side chambers, the officials had two clans, and the officials had subordinate children." In the Zhou Dynasty, all the princes, ministers and officials in the Zhou Dynasty had retainers in their homes. Retainers are appointed and removed by the ministers themselves and are not hereditary. After King Ping of Zhou moved eastward, the patriarchal system gradually shook and collapsed. The political focus of the Zhou Dynasty gradually shifted from the royal family to the princes and states. The ministers and officials in various countries also began to set up retainers, with titles such as Sima and Situ, to take charge of household affairs, procurement, etc. Towns, armies and other matters.

Confucius’s disciples Ran You` and Ji Lu were retainers of Ji Kangzi, a nobleman of Lu state. The other two aristocrats of Lu State, Meng Sun and Shu Sun, also had a large number of retainers. Those retainers who were strategic, good at eloquence, and general planners were responsible for advising their masters and handling clerical affairs. Judging from today's definition of secretarial profession or duties, they were the earliest private secretaries. After the middle period of the Warring States Period, with the rise of scholar lobbying and the nobility of various vassal states supporting scholars, private secretaries developed rapidly.

Some of the "scholars" who traveled around to lobby among the countries held secret official positions such as "guest ministers" and "doctors" of the kings, and more "scholars" were aristocratic kings in various countries. Or they were recruited by officials, such as Mengchang Jun Tianwen of Qi State, Pingyuan Jun Zhao Sheng of Zhao State, Wei Wuji, Xinling Lord of Wei State, Huang Xie, Chunshen Lord of Chu State, Wenxinhou Lu Buwei of Qin State, etc. There were more than 3,000 "scholars" from various countries, commonly known as "diners" or "menke" or "sheren". Among these people, those engaged in clerical and clerical work are called "Shi Shi". "Historical Records·Biography of Lord Mengchang" records: "Jun Mengchang would sit down to entertain guests, and there would always be attendants behind the screen to record what the king and his guests said."

The origins of these scholars are relatively complex, and their knowledge levels vary. , but most of them have their own skills. These retainers may manage the household affairs for the master, or assist the master in planning national affairs, or draft documents and letters for the master, or lobby on behalf of the master, or be responsible for handling certain specific affairs, or write books and treatises on behalf of the master. The actual benevolence is of the second type. Master's personal secretary. A private secretary serves his master with his knowledge and talents, solves problems for his master, and plays an important role in his master's political career.

For example, Feng Yuan, a retainer of Lord Mengchang, went to Xuedi to "collect debts and justice" for Lord Mengchang, and then devised a plan of "three cunning rabbit holes" for Lord Mengchang, so that Lord Mengchang could "serve as prime minister for decades." No harm caused by fiber." Lord Xinling relied on his disciples to compile "The Art of War of the Prince of Wei". After "stealing the talisman to save Zhao", he followed the advice of his disciples and returned to Wei. He "led the troops of the five kingdoms to defeat the Qin army outside the river" and "took advantage of the victory to chase the Qin army." "To Hangu Pass", "weird the world".

Since the owners of these private secretaries were mostly important ministers who "supported the country and held power" in various countries at that time, while they contributed to the cause of the natives, they also had an impact on the domestic and foreign affairs of the country where they were located. had an important impact. For example, when Lord Xinling was in power, "the princes regarded the public as superior to the virtuous, and there were many guests, so they did not dare to add troops to plot Wei for the rest of the year." For most tourists, being a private secretary to a noble lord or a doctor is not their ultimate pursuit.

As the most active class in society at that time, the "Tu" often regarded contribution as a way to get ahead, and obtained official positions by lobbying the king. The nobles, princes and officials in various countries were often just " As a transit point between "scholars" and the monarch, short tenure and mobility have become an important feature of these private secretaries.